MOVIE REVIEW – While closer in spirit to Morbius than Venom, Kraven the Hunter is far from the catastrophe many anticipated. The film delivers a fair share of blood-soaked, globe-trotting action thrills. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is muscular and charismatic, portraying a protagonist whose smug confidence anchors a movie that might have fared better standing on its own instead of clutching at the shadows of its comic book kin.
Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU) has received, to put it mildly, a mixed reception. At best, its films have been seen as serviceable attempts; at worst, they’ve been cringe-worthy disasters, a sentiment amplified by this year’s woeful Madame Web and Venom: The Last Dance. These films seemingly sealed the fate of Sony’s attempt to build a villain-centric chronology alongside the MCU.
Bloody Hunts and Over-the-Top Violence
After more than a year’s delay, Kraven the Hunter was widely regarded as the final nail in the SSU’s coffin. Surprisingly, J.C. Chandor’s direction injects unexpected energy, with sharply choreographed action sequences making it far more entertaining than skeptics predicted.
Chandor’s insistence on an R-rating (Hungary’s equivalent to an 18+ designation) is pivotal: the film barely tempers Kraven’s bloodlust and primal instincts. One standout scene—previewed in the red-band trailer—features Kraven wielding a bear trap, a spiked log, and an improvised body splitter against his pursuers. The arsenal also includes a knife crafted from a lion’s tooth and a formidable crossbow, further underscoring the brutality.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson performs with effortless ferocity, portraying Kraven as a predator who climbs walls, scales trees, dodges bullets, and awes with telescopic vision and superhuman hearing. His Kraven is as boastful as he is capable, even taunting his foes with claims of surpassing fate itself.
The Lion’s Tooth: A Birth of the Hunter
The film delves deeply into Sergei Kravinoff’s origin story. A young Sergei (portrayed by Levi Miller, known from Pan) endures a symbolic trial by a CGI lion reminiscent of Mufasa. This moment anchors a Ghanaian hunting expedition alongside Sergei’s mob boss father, Nikolai (Russell Crowe), and his cowardly half-brother, Dmitri (Billy Barratt).
Saved from near-certain death by a mystical local seer—later revealed to be Calypso, played by Ariana DeBose—Sergei is imbued with a DNA-altering elixir, transforming him into a “born hunter.” This transformation grants Sergei Doctor Dolittle-like abilities to communicate with animals, giving him the courage to confront his tyrannical father, even at the cost of abandoning Dmitri to Nikolai’s icy grasp.
In the present day, Kraven meticulously hunts targets from a deadly list. His first victim is a Russian mob boss whose seemingly impenetrable Siberian prison is no match for Kraven’s creative approach. Another target, a buffalo hunter, meets his end for killing on Kraven’s sacred land.
As tensions escalate, Nikolai finds himself at odds with a rival gangster. Dmitri, now portrayed by Fred Hechinger (Gladiator II), becomes collateral damage, kidnapped as a bargaining chip. Crowe’s Nikolai dismisses any thought of negotiation, declaring, “If I pay, I’m weak!” This leaves Kraven to take down Aleksei (Alessandro Nivola) in a brutal display meant to set an example.
Russell Crowe Steals the Spotlight
Fortunately, Russell Crowe elevates even the most mediocre material. His fatherly wisdom (“Don’t fear death!”, “Be one with nature!”, “Always kill!”) and his delightfully macho drinking advice (“Pour for men, not boys!”) inject charisma into every scene he graces. Crowe’s presence is so captivating that audiences might wish he had more screen time.
Director J.C. Chandor crafts a Shakespearean-worthy conclusion for Crowe’s Nikolai, punctuated by a subtle homage to Brian De Palma’s Carlito’s Way. With its haunting The Call of the Wild score and cleverly borrowed elements, the film strikes a balance between homage and originality.
While Kraven the Hunter doesn’t revolutionize the comic book genre, its R-rating and blood-soaked action sequences set it apart from the average fare in Sony’s cinematic universe. Aaron Taylor-Johnson confidently embodies Kraven, while Russell Crowe’s scenes are particularly memorable. Though far from perfect, the film provides enough momentum and ferocity to entertain within its category.
-Gergely Herpai „BadSector”-
Direction – 5.6
Actors – 7.2
Story – 4.6
Visuels/Musique/Sons/Action – 6.1
Ambience – 6.2
5.9
MEDIOCRE
Kraven the Hunter doesn’t break new ground in the comic book film landscape, but its R-rated violence and intense action give it an edge in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Aaron Taylor-Johnson shines as Kraven, bringing swagger and physicality, while Russell Crowe’s performance is a standout. Despite its flaws, the film offers a brutal and fast-paced ride for fans of the genre.